WGS 84, or World Geodetic System 1984, is a global reference system used for mapping and navigation. It provides a standard framework for identifying locations on Earth using latitude and longitude coordinates. This system is essential for technologies like GPS, allowing devices to pinpoint exact locations anywhere on the planet. The WGS 84 model takes into account the Earth's shape and size, making it more accurate than previous systems. It is widely used in various fields, including cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), and aviation, ensuring that data is consistent and reliable across different platforms and applications.